Owen Marshall’s ‘Mr Van Gogh’ addresses the inevitable issue of marginalization of an person. Through linguistic communication characteristics he influences the reader to reflect and see action of the attitudes towards the socially marginalised. The societal rejection of an person is described through the voice of the town bully. and the fearful Acts of the Apostless of the storyteller. Set in a little town in New Zealand it serves as a microcosm of modern-day society. Marshall presents a parable to educate the reader so they understand that there is merely inclusion when there is exclusion.
Marshall aims to act upon the reader to take action and act in ways that challenge the cosmopolitan societal norms. Through the voice of the town bully Marshall presents the issue of Frank’s rejection. Marshall achieves this by underscoring the jeer demonstrated toward Frank. In. ‘… a local bend to entertain the visitants. “Was he any good though. this Van Gogh sodomite? ”’ . Marshall uses direct address from Mr Souness to badger Frank about his fancy of Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh is Frank’s passion. he admires him like cipher else.
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The rhetorical inquiry that Souness derides Frank with is appropriate because it shows the reader colloquialism that Souness uses whilst he talks down to Frank. Frank is used as amusement for the townsfolk who sadistically take pleasance by roasting Frank’s devotedness toward Van Gogh. This arouses guilt in the reader because it relates to the broader societal context. demoing the truth about society ; Marshall uses representative characters to demo that society must hold “outcasts” . The reader realises that you can either be portion of society or have individualism.
The isolation of Frank is farther evident in. ‘… old sodomite is keeping up the democratic wants of the town’ . this shows the parallel relationship between Van Gogh and Frank through Marshall making repeat in enunciation through the repeat of. ‘bugger’ . Marshall used an drawn-out metaphor. which further developed the character of Frank by associating him to Van Gogh. who was besides marginalised. Ironically by naming Frank. ‘Mr Van Gogh’ . the community are insulating him. fating him to follow Van Gogh’s destiny – a misjudged mastermind deceasing entirely. unrecognised in his ifetime for his work. The exclusion that Marshall created through the voice of the town bully is to boot seen through the Acts of the Apostless of the bystanders in the community. The marginalization of Frank is reflected through the fearful Acts of the Apostless of the storyteller. The townsfolk have no involvement in standing up for Frank ; he stands up for himself. In. ‘Mr Van Gogh was standing before the laughter with his weaponries outstretched like a cross’ . the simile accentuates to the reader that Frank is derided. the town bully and his accompanies laugh at the battle he reluctantly devotes himself to.
The Biblical allusion emphasises the usage of the simile by linking Frank to Jesus ; this shows that Frank and Jesus have a parallel relationship – Frank is being used as a forfeit for the amusement of the townsfolk. giving himself by standing up for his hero. Van Gogh. The community returns to be witnesss even if they believe the ridiculing is incorrect ; they convince themselves that the favoritism is non their concern. highlighted in. ‘I went off from the fencing without watching anymore’ .
Pontius Pilate walked off. ‘washed his hands’ of duty of Jesus’s crucifixion ; the storyteller relates because he sees Frank being used as a human forfeit. yet he turns his dorsum and walks off – non desiring to be portion of the twit Acts of the Apostless. and excessively fearful for his ain ego worth if he stood up for Frank. Marshall elaborates to the reader the involuntariness to put on the line ourselves for others is human behavior ; such as following in the function of others. The community mirrors Souness ; whereas Frank chooses to make his ain way. By destructing Frank’s house Marshall symbolises the devastation of Frank’s individualism.
Marshall shows the community is unconsciously doing attempts to destruct any signifiers of individualism. In. ‘It rose like a Phoenix in its ain fires. and he wasn’t portion of it anymore… the coloring material. and purpose. and vision of Mr Van Gogh had gone out of himself and was at that place on the walls about us” . the listing of abstract nouns accentuates to the reader making a nexus between Frank and Van Gogh – they both dedicated their lives to their passion. The relation to the fabulous animal. Phoenix. attest the Resurrection of Frank ; his psyche is carried through his work. his house.
This Classical allusion is used to show to the reader the symbolic facets of the house. such as Frank’s originality. The simile in. ‘the house collapsed like an old elephant in the drouth surrounded by so many enemies’ . compares the townspeople to scavengers – they are seen as cowards. merely assailing when their quarry seems weak. Marshall uses this because elephants symbolise sensitiveness ; the relation to an ‘elephant in drought’ underscores the exposure of the house whilst Frank is non present to protect his individualism.
The writer places the reader to experience sympathy and horror about the devastation of the house. and evokes the sense of impotence within the reader because the bulk overwhelms the person. Marshall portrays to the reader that group outlook of the bulk attempts to overpower individualism. Due to the construct of binary building. society is predicated on inclusion and exclusion ; in order to accomplish a sense of community. marginalization is inevitable and cosmopolitan. Marshall’s short narrative makes the reader reflect about the hypocritical ways in which society plants.
There will ever be Van Gogh every bit long as there are those who express their individualism ; there will ever be signifiers of exclusion through inclusion. In. ‘… Souness kept express joying. … rubbed his brass knuckss into his left oculus because of the dust’ . the Biblical allusion refers to the Book of Luke through. ‘dust’ . underscoring the message. ‘Why point at the pinpoint in your brother’s oculus. when there is a board in your ain? First take the board from your ain eye… ’ . Hypocrisy is shown by the townsfolk judging others on their personal values. when they themselves have them.
Marshall has caused the reader to gain the lip service in their lives. the reader follows in majorities’ lead of society. Marshall causes the reader see action by altering the ways they think about societal marginalization. It is of import for immature people to read this narrative to raise consciousness of the world of society ; the societal marginalization in the narrative is an illustration of what happens in world. Peoples are laughed at for being different. nevertheless. they should be express joying because society is all the same.
